Archives for November 2002

‘"Antowain did a super job," Pats coach Bill Belichick said. "You just can’t say enough about Antowain Smith. He’s run hard all year. I’m sure it’s good for him to do it here. He’s a good back. I’m glad we got him."’

‘Most of all, it was a coaching clinic by the Pats’ Bill Belichick. In the pregame hype, the game was billed as "Brady versus Bledsoe" or "Bledsoe versus Belichick." No one contemplated the "Belichick versus Williams" battle, which the Pats’ genius won by a technical knockout.’

‘Yet a game of impressive magnitude is exactly what Brady produced. He tormented the Bills right from the opening drive, averting a three-and-out by finding Kevin Faulk out of the backfield for a 19-yard gain on third-and-10. Then it was 6 yards to David Patten and 14 to Troy Brown. Next up was tight end Daniel Graham for 22 yards and, finally, tight end Christian Fauria for 5 yards and a touchdown. The Pats had exerted their will on the game before the Bills even touched the ball.’

‘Place-kicker Mike Hollis had a day he’d rather forget, missing three field goals in the Bills’ 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.’

‘Bills coach Gregg Williams was booed in the third quarter after electing to punt on fourth-and-2 from the Pats’ 32. It was hardly a show of confidence in one of the best offenses in the league.’

‘What they were was badly outplayed, badly out-coached and badly out-classed by the wounded but suddenly resurgent defending Super Bowl champions.’

‘All I know is every time I look up, Belichick is beating the Buffalo Bills and furthering his reputation as one of the best to coach this sport which, at times, gets as technical as it does physical.’

‘And any talk that Buffalo had turned the corner defensively proved premature. Brady showed he is several cuts above David Carr, Ray Lucas and Joey Harrington by completing 23 of 27 passes for 310 yards and 4 scores.’

‘Wow, this is what happens when you start thinking ahead in the NFL, and everyone — the Bills, their fans and the media that covers them — was guilty of dreaming about the playoffs.’

‘COACHING: Bill Belichick and his Patriots staff shoved their Super Bowl rings right in Buffalo’s face. The Bills looked clueless on both sides of the line of scrimmage and showed a complete lack of confidence by punting at New England’s 32-yard line. Gregg Williams’ exposing Bledsoe to injury when down by 31 points was indefensible. F’

‘And mostly, it was about a Patriots team determined to assert itself physically. Bledsoe was forced to scramble on almost every down, getting sacked four times and bumped around several times more.’

‘Brady wasn’t shy about using Smith in crucial situations, be it out of the backfield or in one of the many screen passes he used to chip away at the Bills defence. “He is such a strong, powerful back and he runs hard,” Brady said.’

‘The Patriots are 4-4, but Brady said it will take more than one win to restore their swagger. “I think we need more games than one in a row,” he said. “This was a good one to get us back on track.’

‘Poor Patriots. All they have now are their Super Bowl rings, the Bills’ 2003 No.1 draft choice they received for their former quarterback and now a loud silence to replace the second-guessing they heard for choosing Tom Brady over Bledsoe.’

‘The Patriots, 4-4, put the finishing touches on the rout in front of a sea of empty seats, as many in the Bills’ fifth sellout in five games started to leave at the end of the third quarter, when the score was 31-7. The stadium had been ruled by groups of dancing, chanting Patriots fans who had made the trip west. The Patriots rolled up 422 yards in total offence, were 8-for-12 (67 per cent) on third down and 4-for-5 in the red zone.’